With only three legislative weeks left in 2019, Democrats will continue impeachment hearings this week. Also on the radar: Congress continues appropriations discussions ahead of a December 20 deadline, the U.S. Supreme Court hears oral arguments for six cases, and President Trump attends a NATO summit in London.
NEED TO KNOW FOR THE WEEK
Impeachment hearings continue this week, as the House Judiciary Committee will hold its first hearing on Wednesday. The House Intelligence Committee, meanwhile, is expected to unveil its impeachment report behind closed doors for key lawmakers on Monday (the Committee also plans to vote to make the report public). Per The Associated Press, Wednesday’s hearing “is expected to convene legal experts whose testimony, alongside the report from the Intelligence Committee, [which] could lay the groundwork for possible articles of impeachment.”
Appropriations discussions will continue this week. Legislators will be looking to avoid a government shutdown ahead of the December 20 deadline that was set by the short stopgap funding mechanism passed last month. The House and Senate reached agreement on how to divide $1.37 trillion among the 12 annual funding bills for fiscal 2020, which began Oct. 1, but still need to agree on the spending allocations. Check out Roll Call’s helpful primer for more on the process.
The U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments for six different cases on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of this week. Of particular interest: On Monday, the court will hear its first major gun rights case in nearly a decade in a challenge backed by the National Rifle Association over a New York City handgun regulation that had prevented licensed owners from taking their handguns outside the city.
WEEKEND QUICK HITS
PRESIDENTIAL
Montana Gov. Steve Bullock ended his presidential campaign on Monday morning. (CNN, 12/2/19)
SENATE
ALABAMA: Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill dropped out of the Senate race this weekend, ending his bid in the crowded primary to face Democratic Sen. Doug Jones. (Politico, 12/1/19)
MAINE: Bangor Daily Record: “A Guide To The Millions Pouring Into Maine For The 2020 US Senate Race” (Bangor Daily Record, 12/1/19)
NORTH CAROLINA: McClatchy: “NC Senate Race On Track To Once Again Be One Of The Most Expensive In The Country” (McClatchy, 11/27/19)
HOUSE
The Associated Press: “Impeachment’s Influence Hazy As Issue In Congressional Races” (The Associated Press, 11/30/19)
CA-45: The Orange County Register: “Two New GOP Challengers Enter 2020 Race Against Rep. Katie Porter” (The Orange County Register, 11/27/19)
VA-07: Delegate Nick Freitas, a Republican from Culpeper who was re-elected Nov. 5 in a write-in campaign, announced he is running for the congressional seat held by Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA). (Richmond Times-Dispatch, 12/2/19)
THE PRESIDENT’S AGENDA
On Monday, December 2, through Wednesday, December 4, the president will be in London for the NATO summit.
On Thursday, December 5, the president will deliver remarks at the National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony.
2020 DEM PRIMARY EVENTS
Monday (12/2)
Joe Biden will continue his “No Malarkey Bus Tour” in Emmetsburg, IA on Monday. Other stops this week include Mason City (12/3), Iowa City (12/4), New Hampton (12/5), Waterloo (12/6), and Cedar Rapids (12/7).
Elizabeth Warren will attend a town hall in Iowa City, Iowa.
Thursday (12/5)
Bernie Sanders will attend the Organic Farmers Association and Iowa Organic Association 2019 Presidential Forum in Story City, IA.
Friday (12/6)
Bernie Sanders will attend the Iowa Farmers Union Presidential Forum in Grinnell, IA.
Saturday (12/7)
Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders, and Pete Buttigieg will attend a 2020 Iowa Forum hosted by the teamsters in Cedar Rapids, IA.
EXPECTED VOTES
U.S. Senate
Monday (12/2)
The Senate will convene at 3:00 p.m. and resume consideration of Executive Calendar #503, Dan R. Brouillette, of Texas, to be secretary of energy, post-cloture. At 5:30 p.m., the Senate will conduct a confirmation vote on the Brouillette nomination.
The Senate also has a number of district judge appointments that it may consider this week.
Additional Items The Senate May Consider During This Work Period
- Nominations
- Appropriations
- NDAA Conference Report
- Various Resolutions of Disapproval
- United States-Mexico-Canada Free Trade Agreement
- Sanctions against Turkey
U.S. House of Representatives
Tuesday (12/3)
The House will meet at 2:00 p.m. for legislative business, with votes postponed until 6:30 p.m. Eight bills are expected to be considered:
- H.Res. 517 – Supporting the Global Fund to fight AIDS, tuberculosis (TB), malaria, and its Sixth Replenishment, as amended (Rep. Engel – Foreign Affairs)
- H.R. 3460 – End Neglected Tropical Diseases Act (Rep. Smith (NJ) – Foreign Affairs)
- S. 178 – UIGHUR Act of 2019, as amended (Sen. Rubio – Foreign Affairs)
- H.Res. 546 – Disapproving the Russian Federation’s inclusion in future Group of Seven summits until it respects the territorial integrity of its neighbors and adheres to the standards of democratic societies (Rep. Sires – Foreign Affairs)
- H.Res. 585 – Reaffirming support for the Good Friday Agreement and other agreements to ensure lasting peace in Northern Ireland (Rep. Suozzi – Foreign Affairs)
- H.R. 4803 – Citizenship for Children of Military Members and Civil Servants Act, as amended (Rep. Nadler – Judiciary)
- H.R. 565 – AMIGOS Act, as amended (Rep. Cicilline – Judiciary)
- H.R. 4018 – To provide that the amount of time an elderly offender must serve before being eligible for placement in home detention is to be reduced by the amount of good time credits earned by the prisoner, and for other purposes, as amended (Rep. Deutch – Judiciary)
Wednesday (12/3) & the Balance of the Week
On Wednesday and Thursday, the House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for Morning Hour debate and 12:00 p.m. for legislative business. On Friday, the House will meet at 9:00 a.m. for legislative business, with last votes of the week expected no later than 3:00 p.m.
- R. 2534 – Insider Trading Prohibition Act (Rep. Himes – Financial Services) (Subject to a Rule)
- Res. 326 – Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding United States efforts to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through a negotiated two-state solution (Rep. Lowenthal – Foreign Affairs) (Subject to a Rule)
ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL
U.S. Senate
Monday (12/2)
Cal Cunningham (D-NC) will attend a campaign announcement in Raleigh, NC.
Tuesday (12/3)
John Hickenlooper (D-CO) will attend a fundraiser in Denver, CO.
Wednesday (12/4)
Sara Gideon (D-ME) will attend a Maine House Democratic Campaign Committee Reception in Bangor, ME.
Amy McGrath (D-KY), Tina Smith (D-MN), Theresa Greenfield (D-IA), and MJ Hegar (D-TX) will attend an Electing Women Alliance Reception with in Washington, DC.
Thursday (12/5)
John Mues (D-MT) will attend a fundraiser in Missoula, MT.
Friday (12/6)
Mark Kelly (D-AZ) will attend a fundraiser in Oro Valley, AZ.
Saturday (12/7)
John Hickenlooper (D-CO) will attend a fundraiser in Denver, CO.
U.S. House of Representatives
Monday (12/2)
Rep. Lucy McBath (GA-06) will attend a Veteran’s Town Hall and Resource Fair in Atlanta, GA.
Rep. Andy Kim (NJ-03) will attend town hall in Roebling, NJ.
Wednesday (12/4)
Rep. Nancy Pelosi (CA-12) will attend the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree lighting in Washington, DC.
Thursday (12/5)
Rep. Nancy Pelosi (CA-12) will attend a CNN Town Hall in Washington, DC.
Saturday (12/7)
Rep. Angie Craig (MN-02) will attend a town hall in West St. Paul, MN.
Rep. Mike Levin (CA-49) will attend a town hall in Vista, CA.
Sunday (12/8)
Rep. Tom Malinowski (NJ-07) will attend a fundraiser in Ringoes, NJ.
Rep. Kendra Horn (OK-05) will host a Community Conversation in Oklahoma City, OK.